The Los Angeles Harbor Commission voted Dec. 20 to charge a fee on cargo containers moving through the port, part of a plan to reduce air pollution by replacing thousands of older trucks with cleaner-burning models. The Long Beach Harbor Commission OK'd a similar plan three days earlier.
The Los Angeles commissioners voted to charge a $35 fee for every loaded container beginning June 1.
"This container fee is a fundamental step to ensuring we have the momentum and money to make the most aggressive plan to green the ports' truck fleet a reality," Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said. "With the financial groundwork laid, it's now time to push forward on the rest."
Cargo container fees from both ports are expected to generate about $1.6 billion to help pay to replace nearly 17,000 older-model trucks with ones that spew fewer harmful emissions.
The two ports combined account for more than 40 percent of all containerized cargo entering the United States annually.
Both ports already approved a plan to require that thousands of trucks hauling cargo to the port be replaced or upgraded to meet 2007 emissions standards by 2012. The plan forecasts an 80 percent reduction in air pollution from port trucks in the next five years.
By eTrucker Staff
This should help push Walmart and others to a more southern port. IE: Mexico
The Los Angeles commissioners voted to charge a $35 fee for every loaded container beginning June 1.
"This container fee is a fundamental step to ensuring we have the momentum and money to make the most aggressive plan to green the ports' truck fleet a reality," Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said. "With the financial groundwork laid, it's now time to push forward on the rest."
Cargo container fees from both ports are expected to generate about $1.6 billion to help pay to replace nearly 17,000 older-model trucks with ones that spew fewer harmful emissions.
The two ports combined account for more than 40 percent of all containerized cargo entering the United States annually.
Both ports already approved a plan to require that thousands of trucks hauling cargo to the port be replaced or upgraded to meet 2007 emissions standards by 2012. The plan forecasts an 80 percent reduction in air pollution from port trucks in the next five years.
By eTrucker Staff
This should help push Walmart and others to a more southern port. IE: Mexico